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Rwanda✨ 10 best things to do in Rwanda

Things to do in Rwanda

1. Trek to see mountain gorillasHike through bamboo and nettles in Volcanoes National Park to spend an unforgettable hour with a gorilla family.
2. Track golden monkeysWatch playful, orange-backed golden monkeys leap through bamboo forests on the volcano slopes.
3. Visit the Kigali Genocide MemorialPay respects and learn about the 1994 genocide and Rwanda's path to reconciliation.
4. Walk Nyungwe's canopy walkwayStroll a suspension bridge high above one of Africa's oldest montane rainforests.
5. Track chimpanzees in NyungweSet off at dawn to follow chimpanzee calls through the forest.
6. Go on safari in AkageraSpot lions, rhinos, elephants and giraffes on savanna and lake shores in Rwanda's only savanna park.
7. Relax on Lake KivuKayak, swim or take a boat trip from the lakeside towns of Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu.
8. Explore KigaliBrowse craft shops, coffee bars and art galleries in one of Africa's cleanest capitals.
9. Hike the Congo Nile TrailWalk or cycle along Lake Kivu's shoreline through villages, coffee farms and hills.
10. Watch intore dancersFeel the energy of traditional dancers and drummers performing at cultural centres.

Rwanda🗺️ Where to visit in Rwanda

Where to go in Rwanda

• 
  KigaliCentre · capitalA safe, green and orderly capital with memorials, markets, cafés and a creative scene.
• 📍
  Volcanoes National ParkNorthwest · gorillas & volcanoesHome to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys among dramatic Virunga volcanoes.
• 
  Nyungwe National ParkSouthwest · rainforestAncient montane forest with chimpanzees, monkeys, birds and a canopy walkway.
• 
  Akagera National ParkEast · savanna safariLakes, plains and wetlands with the Big Five after a successful restoration.
• 📍
  Lake KivuWestern border · lakeA beautiful lake for relaxing after treks, with beaches and island boat trips.
• 📍
  MusanzeNorth · gateway townThe base for gorilla treks, caves and twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo.
• 📍
  HuyeSouth · university townHome to the Ethnographic Museum, one of the best in East Africa.
• 📍
  NyanzaSouth · royal heritageSee the reconstructed King's Palace and the long-horned Inyambo cattle.

Rwanda🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Rwanda

Best time to visit Rwanda

Rwanda's altitude gives it a pleasant, spring-like climate year-round. The volcano and Nyungwe regions are cooler and wetter, while Akagera in the east is warmer and drier.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Kigali (approximate averages).

Rwanda🎉 Festivals & events in Rwanda

• April
  KwibukaA national period of remembrance beginning on 7 April honours the victims of the 1994 genocide; visitors should be respectful during commemorations.
• July
  Liberation Day (Kwibohora)On 4 July Rwanda marks the end of the genocide with celebrations and events.
• August
  UmuganuraA national harvest festival celebrating agriculture, culture and community with traditional food and dance.
• Usually September
  Kwita IzinaA ceremony in which newborn mountain gorillas are given names, celebrating conservation.

Rwanda🧭 Rwanda itinerary ideas

How many days in Rwanda?

Rwanda🎒 Backpacking Rwanda – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $40–70 a day

• Gorilla permits are very expensive – if budget is tight, consider golden monkey treks or other primate experiences instead.
• Comfortable public buses connect Kigali with most towns at low fares and run on fixed schedules.
• Moto-taxis are a cheap way around Kigali – riders are required to provide a helmet.
• Eat at local buffets where you pay for one plate piled with beans, plantain, rice and vegetables.
• Kigali has several budget guesthouses and hostels; Musanze and Gisenyi also have affordable options.

Rwanda🛡️ Safety & money in Rwanda

Emergency: 112

Rwanda🛬 Getting to Rwanda

Kigali International Airport is the main gateway, with flights across Africa and to Europe and the Middle East; buses link Rwanda with Uganda and Tanzania.

✈️ Cheap flights to Rwanda: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Rwanda💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Rwanda

• On the last Saturday of each month, Rwandans take part in umuganda, a morning of community service.
• Rwanda's parliament has one of the highest shares of women of any country in the world.
• Mountain gorillas live only in the Virunga volcanoes and Uganda's Bwindi forest.
• Rwanda banned plastic bags nationwide in 2008.
• Kinyarwanda is spoken by almost the entire population, alongside English, French and Swahili as official languages.

Rwanda❓ Rwanda travel FAQ

Rwanda travel questions